Abigail, 11, and Jacob Mossbruger, 9, of Mentor, use binoculars to spot birds from the "Window on Wildlife" at the Penitentiary Glen Reservation Nature Center Sunday during the Great Backyard Bird Count. They were at the park with their parents, Craig and Christine Mossbruger.

A northern cardinal is one of the many species visible from the "window on wildlife" at the Penitentiary Glen Reservation Nature Center. The center was a good spot Sunday for participants in the The Great Backyard Bird Count.

Thousands of people worldwide participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count this weekend, including right here in Northeast Ohio.

As of Sunday evening more than 56,000 bird checklists were submitted to www.birdsource.org identifying 2,548 different species, including 70 species in Lake County.

Natalie Schroder, an interpretive naturalist at Lake MetroparksPenitentiary Glen Reservation in Kirtland, said only about 10 people came to the reservation on Saturday and Sunday for the bird count, as most people would simply print the checklists themselves and look for birds in their own backyards.

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"People that have come here want to get different types of birds than what they have at their homes," Schroder said.

While the crowds of people at the reservation may be small, the birds did not disappoint.

"The birds have been really active this year," Schroder said.

One might assume the spring or fall would be better times to go bird watching, but Schroder said those seasons are the biggest migration periods of the year, so the flying creatures might only be making a pit stop in Ohio.

"It gives us a chance to look for birds we only see in the winter," she said. "The birds that are here in the winter time are here for pretty much the whole season."

Schroder said one of the reasons why bird watching seems to be such a popular activity is people are fascinated by any creature that can fly.

"We have some birds that just look like a 3-year-old drew them with all these different colors," she said.

Schroder added Lake County has an unusual amount of different environments for birds. The forested areas like Penitentiary Glen are full of birds, while a completely different set of shore birds populate parks like Lake Erie Bluffs just a few miles away.

"We're really lucky to have them," she said.

The annual event helps gather knowledge about the health and populations of all types of birds.

Last year, tracking birds led to an important discovery in Lake County, Schroder said.

"Pine siskins and redpolls were dying because they were getting salmonella from feeders," Schroder said. The discovery gave the Metroparks an opportunity to remind the public to properly care for and clean their feeders.

"Every animal is an extremely important part of our environment," Schroder said, citing birds' essential role in controlling insect populations. "Without them, it could be very detrimental."

The bird count, which began Friday, will wrap up today. Bird watchers of all ages are encouraged to come out to Penitentiary Glen or participate from home.